If you’ve recently purchased a set of Prismacolor colored pencils, you’re probably excited to start using them. To get the most out of these high-quality pencils, you’re going to want to make sure you use the best paper for the job.
The ten best papers for Prismacolor colored pencils are:
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- Strathmore Colored Pencil Pad
- Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad
- Legion Stonehenge Pad
- Arteza Drawing Pad
- Colore Sketch Pad
- BAZIC Premium Sketchbook
- Arteza Art Sketchbook
- LYTek Hardcover Sketch Book
- Fabriano Artistico
- Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad
We’ve searched art supply stores far and wide to find the best papers for Prismacolor colored pencils in a variety of sizes and price points.
The Best Papers for Prismacolor Colored Pencils
Our favorite papers for use with Prismacolor colored pencils are below, as well as what makes them so great and the uses they’re best suited for.
Strathmore Colored Pencil Pad
One of the best-known names in artists’ papers, Strathmore, provides papers for all mediums in various sizes. Their Colored Pencil Pad is made especially for (you guessed it) colored pencils but can also be used with charcoal or graphite. The medium-weight paper has a medium-smooth surface. Some artists prefer to use the smoother back of the pages rather than the toothier front.
Canson XL Series Mix Paper Pad
Canson is known for providing high quality at an affordable price, and its products are easy to find in most art supply stores. Their XL Series Mix Paper Pad is perfect for artists who experiment with wet and dry media or combine multiple mediums. The paper is thick and sturdy enough to hold up to a lot of reworking and erasing and smooth enough to facilitate easy blending.
Legion Stonehenge Pad
Legion Stonehenge is a durable paper made of cotton. Initially created for printmakers, the paper has quickly gained popularity with artists using colored pencils, pastels, and charcoal. It is not the cheapest option as far as papers go, but its high quality and durability make it well worth the price. Although mostly used by dry media artists, the paper holds up well to paints drying flat rather than curling or wrinkling from the water. If you’re looking for something especially suited for the high quality and soft lead of Prismacolor colored pencils, this is it.
Arteza Drawing Pad
Arteza is another company making affordable papers of high quality, and the Arteza Drawing Pad is just one example of their excellent products. This acid-free paper will stand the test of time and is perfect for colored pencils and other dry media. The heavyweight paper is lightly textured, making it perfect for erasing and blending.
Colore Sketch Pad
Colore Sketch Pads are perfect for new artists, as well as for experimentation and practice. They also travel well, making them an excellent choice for artists who like to sketch while out and about. The medium-weight paper is lightly textured, making it a versatile addition to any artist’s toolkit.
BAZIC Premium Sketchbook
Another excellent choice for artists is to start or look for a sketchbook to use for practice; the BAZIC Premium Sketchbook meets all your colored pencil needs while being easy on the wallet. The versatile paper is excellent for all dry media, including crayons, charcoal, ink, and pastels, in addition to wax-based colored pencils like Prismacolor.
Arteza Art Sketchbook
The Arteza Art Sketchbook is bound with a hard linen cover, perfect for artists who want to travel with their sketchbooks without worrying about the pages getting damaged. The small size makes it extra portable, and the acid-free, heavyweight paper is durable enough for pieces that you want to save in your portfolio. The sketchbook works for various dry media, allows for smooth blending, and holds up to heavy layering and erasing.
LYTek Hardcover Sketch Book
The LYTek Hardcover Sketch Book is another excellent choice for traveling artists. Bound in a durable water-repellent hardcover, this sketchbook can take a beating. The versatile paper works well with colored pencils and all other dry media and is thick and acid-free.
Fabriano Artistico
Fabriano Artistico paper is made of watercolors, but durable cotton paper can be used with acrylic, ink, charcoal, markers, and colored pencils. The paper is smooth enough for finely detailed work and strong enough to hold up to layering, reworking, and repeated erasing. Since it’s acid-free, it’s also suitable for work that you’d like to keep.
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad
The Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Pad is perfect for display projects and comes in sizes ranging from the average 9″x12″ up to 19″x24″. The heavyweight paper is ideal for colored pencils but also works with ink, charcoal, and markers. Many colored pencil artists prefer the textured vellum option, but artists looking to create fine details can choose the smooth version.
How to Evaluate Paper for Colored Pencil Art
Below are some suggestions for what to think about when choosing evaluating paper for use with colored pencils.
Type of Pencil
If you’re new to colored pencil art, you might not realize that there are multiple types of colored pencils.
The three types are:
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- Wax-based
- Oil-based
- Water-soluble
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The type of pencil you’re using will play a part in determining the paper you choose. Although it’s mostly a matter of preference, a general rule of thumb is that rougher textured paper is better for harder water-soluble pencils. Smother paper works best with softer wax oil-based pencils.
Pencil Quality
Lower-quality pencils require the artist to push harder to deposit color, so it might be a good idea to use thicker paper if your pencils aren’t top-notch. It’s also worth considering how much you want to spend on paper if you’re using inexpensive pencils – if you’re not looking to invest a ton of money on your art, you might opt for paper with a lower price tag. On the other hand, if you shelled out a ton for the most superior pencils you can afford, you might want to invest in higher-quality paper to do the pencils justice.
Display or Practice
It might make sense to invest in a higher quality or thicker paper if you’re planning to display your work, whereas a less expensive or thinner paper is just fine to use for practice.
Thickness
The thickness of the paper you’re using for colored pencils is mostly a matter of preference, just like most aspects of choosing art mediums and tools. However, artists who do a lot of erasing or multimedia work often find that thicker paper holds up a little better. Additionally, artists with lower-quality pencils might prefer thicker paper to stand the increased pressure needed to compensate for the lower pigment ratio.
Surface Texture
Some colored pencil artists find that rougher paper works best with softer pencils and larger-scale works like landscapes, and smoother paper is better for harder leads and more detailed work. Another thing to consider is that rougher paper eats away the pencil lead more quickly than smoother surfaces, meaning more frequent pencil sharpening.
Paper Size
It’s easy to forget something as necessary as size when choosing a paper, so make sure to keep it in mind when choosing one. Think about what size art you like to create, as well as how portable you’d like your paper to be if you like to draw while away from home; you might want to choose a smaller-sized paper that can easily fit into a backpack or purse.
Type of Project
The paper you choose will have a lot to do with how the final work turns out, so keep this in mind when paper shopping. To find a paper that meets all of your needs, ask yourself a few questions about what you’re hoping to achieve. Are you looking to create something that you hope to display? Or are you just interested in sketching for practice and experimentation for now? Will a smooth surface or rougher texture compliment your style better? What size piece are you planning to make?
Not ready to invest in Prismacolor Colored Pencils? Check out our article HERE on more affordable options!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this guide will give you an excellent place to start in your search for the perfect paper for your colored pencil art. Although we have our favorites to use with Prismacolor colored pencils, yours might be different.
Try out a few different ones, and go with what works best for you. Just remember that you’re never married to the paper you choose – if your needs or preferences change over time, don’t be afraid to switch to a new paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Prismacolor colored pencils differ from other colored pencils?
Prismacolor colored pencils are high-quality artists’ pencils with highly pigmented lead. The soft, wax-based lead allows for effortless blending.
Can I use Prismacolor colored pencils on canvas?
Prismacolor colored pencils can be used on paper, canvas, wood, and various other surfaces. Because they contain softer lead, surfaces with more “tooth” or rougher texture will wear down the pencils quickly.
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